The EastEnders actor, who was described as an "unofficial man of the people," sat at a festive table, sipping out of a royal wedding mug with the faces of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle smiling out.

The 41-year-old gave his views on the country’s leadership, joking that in Albert Square, where his character Mick Carter is the landlord of the Queen Vic, there is less "backstabbing" than in Westminster.

He said: "That shambles down in Westminster, what a palaver that is. I mean, where are our leaders? Where are they? There’s been more backstabbing than we have in Albert Square."

Danny also took aim at US President Donald Trump, who faced criticism in November after he cancelled a visit to a cemetery in France "due to the weather".

Danny talking about politicians
(Image: Channel 4)

He looked down at his royal mug
(Image: Channel 4)

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The actor continued: "It ain’t any better for the Yanks though, is it, you know. What an absolute melt they’ve got there. He don’t want to turn up to memorials because it’s raining. He don’t fancy a little trip to Britain because there’s people here that just don’t like him. Leave off."

Mr Trump is not the first political leader to feel Danny’s wrath, who earlier this year called David Cameron a "t**t" on national television.

He launched a diatribe against the former prime minister while appearing as a guest on ITV’s one-off show Good Evening Britain, and gave him a tongue lashing over the EU referendum and Brexit.

The Alternative Christmas Message, shown closely following the Queen’s message but on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, also included a nod to the centenary celebrations of the Armistice and the women’s vote.

He called for "more heroes and role models", and revealed a few of his personal ones including playwright Harold Pinter, who died in 2008.

He said: "My dad… he weren’t around when I was a kid. And er… you know, I love him and that, I don’t blame him.

"I was brought up by my mum and my nan, and they were brilliant women, and they worked their socks off for me, but I was angry, and I got into trouble, you know. I had the Old Bill round my gaff every five minutes. I was a wrong un.

"And no-one knew how to help me. And then one day I found a father figure I didn’t even know I needed."

Hewent on to say that Pinter "became the most influential man in my life" who taught him "that where I came from didn’t dictate where I went to".

"I teach my girls they can be who they want to be, and I try and teach my boy to be a good man," he said.

"Now don’t get me wrong, I ain’t no saint, you know, I can do better. I think we can all do better. And as dads, we can’t stop trying to do better until there’s no need for hashtags to remind us that no means no."

He signed off saying: "Life can get a little stressful and we might get on each other’s nerves a bit, but remember how much there is to be proud of, to be grateful of, and get yourself a Harold, you know, if you can. Merry Christmas, my loves."

Danny’s character Mick was not feeling too festive in the soap after getting banged up
(Image: BBC)

Tom Beck, Channel 4’s head of live events and commissioning editor for entertainment, said: "We’re thrilled to have Danny Dyer delivering this year’s Alternative Christmas Message.

"From his colourful opinions on Brexit to his hilarious and moving appearance with daughter Dani on Celebrity Gogglebox, when Danny speaks, people listen. His message is full of wit, heart and just the right amount of Dyer attitude. Merry Christmas, loves!"

A Christmas message has been broadcast by Channel 4 since 1993 and last year’s was delivered by child survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Previous messages have been delivered by the parents of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, Sharon Osbourne and even The Simpsons’ Marge Simpson.